LONA. What person, Pastor? RÖRLUND. With the person from whom, of all others in the world, she should be kept furthest apart. LONA. Ho-ho! RÖRLUND. Is it with your consent, Consul? BERNICK. I know nothing about it. [_Looking for his hat and gloves._] Excuse me; I am in a hurry; I am going up to the Trade Council. HILMAR. [_Enters from the garden and goes over to the second door to the left._] Betty, Betty, come here! MRS. BERNICK. [_In the doorway._] What is it? HILMAR. You must go down the garden and put a stop to the flirtation a certain person is carrying on with Miss Dina Dorf. It has made me quite nervous to listen to it. LONA. Indeed? What did the person say? HILMAR. Oh, only that he wants her to go with him to America. Ugh! RÖRLUND. Can such things be possible! MRS. BERNICK. What do you say? LONA. Why, that would be capital. BERNICK. Impossible! You must have misunderstood him. HILMAR. Then ask him himself. Here come the couple. Only don’t drag me into the business. BERNICK. [_To_ RUMMEL _and_ VIGELAND.] I shall follow you—in a moment—— [RUMMEL _and_ VIGELAND _go out to the right._ JOHAN TÖNNESEN _and_ DINA _come in from the garden._ JOHAN. Hurrah, Lona, she’s coming with us! MRS. BERNICK. Oh, Johan—how can you! RÖRLUND. Can this be true? Such a crying scandal? By what vile arts have you——? JOHAN. What, what, man? What are you saying? RÖRLUND. Answer me, Dina: is this your intention?—deliberately formed, and of your own free will? DINA. I _must_ get away from here. RÖRLUND. But with _him_—with _him_! DINA. Tell me of any one else that has courage to set me free? RÖRLUND. Then you shall know who he is. JOHAN. Be silent! BERNICK. Not a word more! RÖRLUND. Then I should ill serve the community over whose manners and morals it is my duty to keep watch; and I should act most indefensibly towards this young girl, in whose training I have borne an important share, and who is to me—— JOHAN. Take care what you are doing!